Dental Bridges in Santa Rosa

All of your teeth play an important role in speaking, chewing, and maintaining proper alignment of other teeth. Tooth loss doesn’t necessarily have to occur as you age, but if you do lose teeth, they must be replaced to maintain the proper function of your mouth. Fortunately, there are options for correcting tooth loss.

Types of Dental Bridges

A bridge is a device used to replace missing teeth. It attaches artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth, called abutment teeth. Bridges are either permanently attached (fixed bridges) or removable.

Fixed bridges are applied by either placing crowns on the abutment teeth or by bonding the artificial teeth directly to the abutment teeth. Removable bridges are attached to the teeth with metal clasps or precision attachments.

If you’re missing one or more teeth, you may be aware of their importance to your appearance and dental health. Your teeth work together for many daily functions, from eating to speaking. With missing teeth, it’s difficult to do these things. Missing teeth can and should be replaced. Fixed bridges are a great way to restore your dental health and appearance.

What exactly is a bridge or fixed partial denture?

A bridge (fixed partial denture) is a device, which fills the gap where teeth are absent. Fixed bridges are bonded into place and can only be removed by a dental professional. Removable bridges, as the name implies, can be taken out and cleaned. Fixed bridges offer more stability than their removable counterparts.

Why do I need a bridge?

Oral functionality and appearance are important reasons for wearing a bridge. A bridge helps support your lips and cheeks. The loss of a back tooth may cause your mouth to sink and your face to look older.

Dental health is the most important reason for a bridge. Teeth were designed to complement each other. Unusual stresses are placed on the gums and other oral tissues when teeth are missing, causing a number of potentially harmful disorders.

Increased risk of gum disease has proven to be one of the worst side effects of missing teeth and can be minimized with a bridge.

Missing teeth can cause speech disorders as they are used to make many of the sounds we use to speak clearly.

How is a bridge attached?

The attachment procedure usually takes two or three appointments to complete. At the first appointment, your doctor will prepare the teeth on either side of the gap by removing a portion of the enamel and dentin.

Since the bridge must be fabricated very precisely to ensure correct bite and to match the opposing tooth, impressions of the teeth are taken and sent to a lab where the bridge will be constructed.

Fixed bridges are typically cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing tooth. A pontic (false tooth) replaces the lost tooth. Crowns, which are cemented onto the natural teeth, provide support for the bridge.

Before and After Dental Bridges

View Our Dental Bridges Gallery

“Mike had lost his front tooth in a childhood accident. He and his parents chose a fixed bridge rather than a dental implant to replace his front tooth. A porcelain bridge may not be the ideal restoration but can give a very nice result and last for many years.”

“Dr. Erlach restored Bart’s missing and small teeth with two dental bridges.”

“Missing teeth can be replaced by fixed bridges, as in this case, or dental implants.”

“After removing several hopeless teeth, Dr. Anderson restored this patient’s smile with an all-porcelain bridge.”

Dental Bridge FAQs

What materials are used?

Bridges can be constructed from gold alloys, non-precious alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Porcelain is often bonded to either precious or non-precious metal.

How much do dental bridges cost?

Depending on the patient’s findings, the cost may be comparable to a single implant with a crown.

Is a dental bridge painful?

When teeth are prepared for a bridge, a layer of tooth structure must be removed. For the patient to be comfortable, local anesthetic is used to prevent a painful experience.

Can a dental bridge be removed and recemented?

No. A bridge is designed to be permanently cemented. If there is an issue with one of the abutment teeth, the bridge may have to be addressed as a whole.

Do dental bridges prevent bone loss?

To some degree. Not as effective as compared to the alternative: a dental implant.

Can a bridge be placed on implants?

Yes, a bridge can be implant supported with two or more implants. However, a bridge cannot connect an implant and a natural tooth.